DO YOU KNOW WHAT EXPIRATION DATES MEAN?
Hello July! I used to dread the day after the 4th of July because it signaled the official countdown to the new school year.
While my mom had an extra kick in her step, the rest of us had the pending doom of alarm clocks and locker combinations.
By mid-July, I have the same feeling of dread of getting my kitchen cabinets and pantry organized before the official kick-off of pumpkin bread and pumpkin spice muffins.
I know it’s still popsicle season, but now is the time to tackle the almost empty baking soda and the misplaced Costco-sized bottle of Pure Vanilla.
The best way to sort and reduce food waste is to check the expiration dates. This is the perfect time of year to review the technical and non-scientific methods for understanding food expiration dates.
Dio you know the difference between the not-always-scientific measure of food expiration?
DEFINITIONS OF EXPIRATION DATES
The first step is to sort pantry and refrigerator items by expiration dates.
On a side note, how many of us can read the expiration date?
I bought this lighted magnifier glass (an Amazon best seller (for a few dollars) for my kitchen junk drawer.
Part of prepping for a new season is to clear the expired jars and containers.
During the COVID pandemic, my kids had the best time finding the oldest expiration dates in the pantry and medicine cabinets.
Prepping our kitchen cabinets and pantry for the baking season is a good time to check the expiration dates.
Definitions OF EXPIRATION DATES
- Best by: quality, not safety
It’s like when you find a bag of chips that has been open for a few days. You will still eat them because queso masks the stale chip taste.
2. Sell by: references the store’s internal rotation process.
3. Use your senses—Sniff and visual test are usually reserved for refrigerated items.
This definition is like wearing a shirt twice. Does it pass the sniff or visual test?
For further clarification, I found this Real Simple article about expiration dates.
the sniff test is the one my mom used. The Food & Safety Inspection Services objective is to maintain safety AND prevent food waste.
Which also explains my mom continues to wrap every leftover (including toast) in cling wrap.
Federal law requires a date on all infant formulas for safety, and it should always be followed.
Thank you for stopping by Everyday Edits! Let me know what you would love to see on the blog this fall!
LOOK AT MY FAVORITE THINGS IN THE KITCHEN
Use your senses.. yup.